Joe Brainard's Love, Joe is an intimate collection of letters, diary entries, and reflections that capture the essence of his life and relationships, offering readers a candid glimpse into his thoughts and emotions. Known for his work as a visual artist and writer, Brainard’s Love, Joe reveals a deeply personal side of him, one that is tender, vulnerable, and introspective.

One of the strengths of Love, Joe is its unfiltered honesty. Brainard doesn’t shy away from expressing his fears, desires, and insecurities. His writing is refreshingly direct, and this candor makes the book feel like a private conversation with a close friend. There’s a simplicity to his language that resonates, allowing the reader to connect with the rawness of his experiences. The way he navigates topics like love, friendship, and creativity feels sincere, as if he’s writing without any pretense or desire to impress.

However, this same rawness might not appeal to everyone. Some readers may find the lack of a structured narrative or the occasional mundane detail less engaging. But for those who appreciate Brainard’s art and previous works, this collection offers a deeper understanding of the man behind the creativity. His reflections on his relationships, particularly his friendships with other artists and writers of his time, provide valuable insights into the New York art scene during the 1960s and 70s.

In summary, Love, Joe is a heartfelt and unguarded exploration of Joe Brainard’s inner world. It’s a book that invites readers to embrace the beauty in vulnerability and the complexity of human emotions. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate Brainard’s unique voice will find it a rewarding and intimate read.

Selected letters sent by the artist Joe Brainard to various important people in his life. This is a strange collection. The editor decided to group the letters so that each individual section shows letters sent to one person. Because Brainard was a busy correspondent, it means that the material in the letters is often repeated to more than one individual. As such, certain parts of the book are quite repetitious. I don't think there is one, easy way to make decisions about how letters should be arranged, but the oddness is somewhat enhanced by the fact that these are only excerpts of letters from Brainard. There is no back and forth here with replies from the other people involved.

A lot of what would make the letters more appealing is the fact that Brainard often illustrated his letters, but apart from a few reproductions of actual letters, not all of which have illustrations, it's just pages of typed text.

Brainard seemed like a man who had a lot of friends and a really interesting life, only bits of which you can deduce from this collection. It may be of interest to someone who knew him, or has been studying his life and works and who can already fill in a lot of the blanks, but if you're coming to it cold, it will be of only limited value.

Love, Joe is a selection of artist Joe Brainard’s letters and the book was edited by Prof Daniel Kane, an expert in literature.
I was only remotely familiar with Brainard prior to picking up this book - his memoir, I Remember, and his cultural influence in the 60s.
To be more precise, I had forgotten about what he went through in his final years, and with this collection of interestingly formatted letters by Brainard (they are creative, cute, intimate, sincere, funny, touching), sometimes questionnaire answers, sometimes drawings, I got to explore the mind of an influential artist, who struggled with his queerness and devoted his final years to living life and loving his loved ones.

A great book for memoir readers, Brainard enthusiasts, those interested in the past and cultural circles, and simply, human condition.